THE SOURCE OF THE NILE. 41 



in Abyflinia." — " Madam, fays Ayto Confu, is not Guefgue 

 yours ? does it pay you any thing ?" 



*' It was mine, fays the queen, while any thing was mine ; 

 but Michael took it and gave it to Coque Abou Barea, and 

 fince, it has paid me nothing. Fafd has fent for him about 

 the affair of Yagoube, as he fays, and has ordered him to 

 come in the fame manner that he himfelf is come in pri- 

 vate; but forbid him to bring his army with him, in order 

 that no means of relief may be poffible to this devoted 

 country." Large tears flowed down her venerable face at 

 faying thefe words, and iliewed the deep-rooted fear in her 

 heart, that Michael's coming was decreed without poffibility 

 of prevention. " I wonder, fays Ayto Engedan, laughing, to 

 divert her, if Coque Abou Barea is the fame good Chriilian 

 that you and. Yagoube are; i'~^ he is not, nothing elfe will 

 fave him from the hands of Confu and me ; for we both 

 want horfes and mules for our men, and he has good ones, 

 and arms too, that belonged to my father." — " And both of 

 you, fays the queen, are as b^d men as either Woodage A- 

 fahel or Coque Abou Barea." At this moment the arrival of 

 Fafil was announced, and we were all turned out, and went 

 to breakfaft. I faw him afterwards going out of the pa- 

 lace. He faluted me flighily, and feemed much pre-occu- 

 pied in mind. He only defired me to come to Gondar next 

 morning, and he would fpeak to me about Coque Abou Ba- 

 rea ; but this the Iteghe refufed to permit me to do, fo I 

 remained at Kofcam. 



Fasil, although he did not deny that he had made peace 

 with Ras Michael, yet, to quiet the minds of the people, al- 

 ways folemnly protclled, that, fo far from coming to Gondar, 

 Vol. IV. F he 



